Preparation and characterization of CuFe_(2-x)Cr_xO_4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) nano spinels for electrocatalysis of oxygen evolution in alkaline solutions

摘要

Some new nano-sized ternary ferrites with molecular formula, CuFe_(2-x)Cr_xO_4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) have been prepared by a precipitation method and were investigated as electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline solutions. The reaction followed first-order kinetics with respect to OH~- concentration, regardless of the nature of the electrocatalyst. The Tafel slope for the OER was ～ 2.3RT/F with each oxide at low overpotentials. The replacement of Fe by Cr in the CuFe_2O_4 matrix was found to improve both geometrical as well as electronic properties of the material in favour of electrocatalysis of O_2 evolution considerably.